In a stunning -- or should I say STUNNED -- turn of events Wednesday, Flyers' Senior Vice President and former leader of the Broadstreet Bullies Bobby Clarke told TSN's Off the Record he not only approves of Steve Downie's sucker punch on Jason Blake Saturday but that league disciplinarian Colin Campbell OVERREACTED when he gave Downie 20 games for the preseason hit on Dean McAmmond.

Yes, you read that right. I'm not making this s**t up.

Don't believe me? Here it is, straight from the ass's mouth: TSN.ca Broadband. If the video link doesn't work, read the story on TSN.ca. Sorry for talking like a proverbial trucker but I can't find words that fit any better. Well, I could, but they'd be even worse.

Clarke said Blake pretty much had it coming to him after the new Leaf said Downie should be suspended for the season after the McAmmond hit. "When you say something that stupid, why shouldn't this kid go after him for it?", quipped Clarke. "When he went after Blake, I loved it," Clarke told TSN.

Clarke also likened the McAmmond hit to ones that everyone admired when a guy named Scott Stevens did them. "To suspend him [Downie] for 20 games is ridiculous. McAmmond was a veteran player who was skating and watching his pass and got nailed. Sorry for it, too bad he got hurt but it was his own fault as much as it was Downie's."

Someone needs to tell Bobby Clarke that his inside voice needs to stay inside. You can't condemn a man for the thoughts inside his head, but you sure can criticize him for the B-S that spews out the ugly orifice attached to his grey matter.

I don't buy the mantra the Leafs need to give Sundin a shot at a Cup with another team, what with everything he has given the Buds. But I do buy the thought Sundin should recognize where his beloved blue and white stand AND give the Buds a chance to rebuild.

Last year, Peter Forsberg was worth two young players -- Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent -- and first and third round draft picks. Keith Tkachuk got his team first, second and third round picks. Ryan Smyth, two young players and a first rounder.

Sundin is better than all those boys and should fetch a package significantly better than any of those listed above. But the Buds are just four points from a playoff berth in a Eastern Conference that's bunched tighter than the $2.99 senior's special buffet line.

The team would be better off pulling off a deal. After all, someone had the courage to swing the massive deal that got a very young Sundin into blue and white. But somehow, they'll forget all that. And the Buds will remain a hockey -- and fantasy -- wasteland.